FROM BOOK ONE (from the new version that came out in April 2007)
Beekeeping
According to Anastasia in every garden-plot there should be a minimum
of one colony of bees. She gives special instructions on how to make a
beehive (see below).
She states that the way people have been raising bees until now has
“just gets in the way”. (pp 81)
In regards to bees Anastasia says that the products that come from
bees are “so useful for Man”. (pp 82)
Instructions for making a beehive:
- Make the hive in the shape of a hollow block
- Use a log that already has a hole in it and make it bigger
- Or use boards from deciduous trees to make a long hollow box 120
centimeters long (the boards should be no less than 6 cm thick). The
inside measurements of the cavity should be at least 40 x 40
centimeters.
- Triangular strips should be inserted into the corners where the
inner surfaces meet to make the cavity rounded (lightly glue the
strips so the bees can firm them up later).
- Cover one end with a board of the same thickness, with a hinged
panel at the other end. Cut the panel so it fits snugly into the
opening and seal it with grass or cloth covering the whole bottom.
- Cut a series of slits in the cloth (not too many) along the bottom
edge of one of the sides approximately one and a half centimeters
wide, starting 30 cm from the hinged opening and continuing to the
other end.
- Set the hive on pilings anywhere in the garden-plot at least 20-25
centimeters off the ground, with the slits facing south. Stand it on a
small platform, with an overhead canopy to protect it from the sun,
and wrap it with insulation in the winter.
- Whenever possible place the hive under the roof of the house so as
not to interfere with the bees when they are flying in and out. Attach
it to the south wall of the house, just under the eaves.
- Align the hive horizontally at a 20-30 degree angle, with the
opening at the lower end.
- The hive can be installed in an attic as long as there is proper
ventilation, or it can be installed on the roof of the house.
- Make sure that no matter where you place the hive you have proper
access to it and can remove the honeycomb.
- If the hive is not made properly the bees will spend their time to
fix what is broken instead of gathering honey and producing offspring.
- Under natural conditions bees live in tree hollows. They should be
kept under conditions as close to their natural ones as possible.
- The bees pollinate the plants more effectively than any other means.
- Bees’ mouths open up “channels in the plants through which the
plants take in supplemental information reflected by the planets”.
- Put a little chunk of wax and some honey-plant in the hive to
attract bees. Once the colonies are established on a few neighboring
plots the bees will multiply by themselves.
- When gathering the honey do not be greedy. Break off the hanging
honeycomb and extract the sealed honey and pollen. Be sure to leave
part of it for the winter. It is better to not collect any honey at all for the first year. (pp 82-85)
